The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16
ROCK CRYSTAL.
UNIQUE AND COSTLY BALLS
FROM THIS MATERIAL.
A Crystal Sphere Worth S2o.ooo-
Rock Crystal Beds-Shaping
the Balls in Japan and
in this Country.

Several weeks ago there passed through
this city, bound for New York q
Japanese, who carried a number OF
objects that will undoubtedly become a
new era in the way of brlc-a -brac; not
that the OBJ ,ects arc new, for they are
among the earliest of scoveries, being
none less than the famous crystal Dals
mentioned in many of the oldest works
known; but lately attention has Deen
drawn to them from the fact that TWO
rival crystal collectors ere striving 10
out-do the other, each having gwen
ordersa,to procure the largest. That
there is limit is shown by the fact that
several years ago firm gave on order,
prlce unlimited, for crystal slabs measur'
ing four by six and five by Six inches,
and from one-quartcr to one inch IN
thickness, but it has, SO far, been found
impossible to fulfill the order. 10 any
one who has never seen one of these
balls. such an object would appear to
have little value; but once place a large
one by the side. offs fac-simile in the
purest and best glass known and tine
elories of the rock crystal are at. once
apparent, and when we add to this
beauty of contour an extremely interest
ing history, the object becomes OF value
at once.
Imagine a perfect sphere of glass with
the polish of the diamond, perfectly de-
void of tint, so pellucid that one can look
into its very depths without catching the
slightest ray of color; in fact, it is a gl-
gantic dewdrop, clear and wonderfulin its
absence of color, presenting, as / have said,
an astonishing contrast to glass, which
is well to remember, as such bogus balls
are often offered for sale, but can be told
Immediately by comparing them with
glass. Rock crystal balls will not be col
lected like stamps, birds eggs or coins
A ball one inch in diameter brings 81,
two inches SIS, three inches in diameter
SIS to $50, four inches $40 to S75, i've
inches $125 to $3.50, six inches, from
5000 to So, 900, and from here they jump
to astonishing prices, so that one can be
as select in crystal balls as with dla-
monds.
Avery fine one was numbered among the
GRO wn Jewels of France. 1t was six and
half inches in diameter, and is, l be-
lieve, in this country. MIR. r. +. Moore,
of New York. owns one which measures
six aud five -eighths inches in diameter,
valued at $5, 600. This specimen is also
of Japanese make, and cost "a, QUO in that
country. Thirty years ago Commodore
Perry brought home ball which meas
ures five and fve-e -eighths inches.- 1t is
now owned by Mr.. Samuel N. Nicker-
son, President of the First National
Bank of Chicago, who values it at s2?,-
900. One was sold some time ago Tor
81, 200 measuring FIVE and seven-eighths
inches in diameter. MIR. Huber R. Bishop
is the fortunate owner. This ball would
probably bring thirty times this amount
to-day.
These may seem large prices, but Pro,
fessor George F. Kune, the gem expert
of Messrs. Tiffany and Co., who has
thoroughly investigated the subject, in
an elaborate report to the New York
Academy of Sciences, states that he has
so far failed to learn of any masses OF
rock crystal in the United States that
would produce perfect three-inch ball.
So rare arc the large pieces that standing
orders are on record rs follows: l,OOU
for fve-inch crystal, 81 500 for five
and half-inch ball and 81, 900 for a
seven-inch one.
As natural sequence to this demand
rock, crystal beds are veritable gold
mines, and would be far more valuable
if large deposits could be found. The
majority come from Madagascar and
Brazil, while the best known localities IN
Europe are FredeEerg, Salzberg, Liller.
thai in Tyrol, and Hungary. Limited
supplies come from Ceylon, and some
have been found in this State, though not
in large quantities. In the vicinity of
Mt. Blanc some fine specimens are found.
and some years ago peasant made re-
markable find at Galensteck, above The
Trifengletscher. 1t was granite cave
from which the discoverer took over one
thousand crystals, the finest weighing
about 120 pounds.
Nineteen mines are known in Japan,
being worked at the present day for both
rock crystal and quartz. The former is
in clear masses in the highlands of Nj
phon and in various localities in Cen
trail Japan, especially near kamig. The
rock crystal when taken from the mines
finds its way to the workers, who. in
many cases, belong to families that have
been in the business for centuries, some
workers being able to point to twenty
generations in the same business.
When piece has been selected it is
roughly shaped into the required torn,
whether for ball or vase. small ham,
mer being used, with which the stone
is nicked around carefully. and then
broken by sharp blow-seemingly a
delicate operation when several thousand
dollars are at stake. From the trimmer
the forthcoming ball goes to grinder, "
whose outfit consists OF various polish
ing tools, powdered garnet and emery
being the chief materials, and several
cylindrical pieces of cast iron of various
sizes, and finally, by the most patient
manipulation, it becomes perfect sphere.
1t is then polished by being rolled in the
hands or rubbed with bamboo or rouge,
and then the "jewel ball." or tama, is
ready for sale-a most splendid oh. .cct.
These balls are now made in this coun-
try and Europe. and, as one would ex-
pect, not by hand, the stone being placed
in semi-circular groove worn in huge
grindstone by either flint OF. quart, and
SO held there while the stone is revolved
assuming in time the exact shape of the
depression. This is an operation requir-
ing great care and watchfulness, as if
the stone becomes dry it is liable to be-
come heated and crack. When the re